Writing instrument



Nov. 5, 1957 G. F. RIGONDAUD WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 14. 1953 United States Patent G WRITING INSTRUMENT Guy Frdric Rigondaud, Paris, France Application January 14, 1953, Serial No. 331,132

7 Claims. (Cl. 120-50) This invention relates to writing instruments, particularly a fountain pen.

An object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen free of any moving parts therein.

Another object is to provide a fountain pen, wherein there are no parts subjected to wear so that its service life is very greatly prolonged without reduction of the writing characteristics.

A further object is to provide a pen which is very simple and economical to make.

A further object is to provide a pen in which a refill operation does not involve the actuation of a movable member.

A further object is the provision of a pen in which ink will not tend to leak out.-

A further object is to provide a pen which will be entirely insensitive to ambient temperature and pressure variations. p

A further object is to provide a pen which will be insensitive to variations in the position of the pen with respect to the vertical.

A further object is to provide a pen which will be practically insensitive to jolts and impacts to which it may be subjected as regards the smooth outflow of ink therefrom.

A further object is to provide a pen wherein the ink is only able to flow out during writing, that is when the writing extremity is moved over a sheet of paper or the like.

In a fountain pen or writing instrument according to the invention, the reservoir or a part thereof contains a'medium in which capillary forces are adapted to exert their action in a particularly effective manner for absorbing the stored ink and retaining it during periods in which the instrument is not in use.

Desirably a writing instrument according to the invention comprises a'continuous chain or sequence of ink retaining means from its writing aperture inwards so that, simply by dipping said aperture into a liquid, the latter will fill the storage space attributed to it under the sole effect of capillary forces and without the intervention of any movable mechanical parts.

Inasmuch as the transfer of the fluid is effected with out the use of air pressure or suction as is generally the case in conventional instruments, a permanent communication may be provided between the interior of the reservoir and the outer atmosphere. Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a fountain pen wherein a permanent communication is established between the ink storage space and the outer atmosphere.

As a result of the feature just mentioned, pressure and/ or temperature variations in the ambient atmosphere regardless of the amplitude and rate of such variations remain without any influence whatsoever over the outflow of ink since the interior of the reservoir is at all times in exact equilibrium withthe atmosphere.

The medium in which ink is stored and-retained can 2,811,947 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 assume any of various characters. The fundamental characteristics it should possess are its hydrophilous or liquid-absorbent character and wettability.

Suitable substances displaying these characteristics include cellulosic materials, and primarily cellulose, such as derived for example from cotton fibre.

Water repellent (hydrophobous) materials having a water-absorbent (hydrophilous) surface layer thereof may also be used according to the invention.

The diameter of the fibres and the dimensions of the mesh or inter-fibre spacing therein are selected with regard to the amount of the capillary forces which it is desired to develop. Either or both factors may be varied, moreover, with the position of the storage element within the reservoir.

The above considerations hold true not only for the material used as the actual storage means Within the reservoir, but likewise for the other elements of the chain or sequence extending from the mouth aperture of the instrument to the reservoir thereof.

In the usual case where the reservoir is cylindrical, the invention provides the stacking of a plurality of disclike elements within the cylindrical cavity of a fountainpen of conventional shape. These disc-like elements are preferably made of a hydrophilous or water-absorbent material and in accordance with the statements previously made herein, the fibre diameters and mesh size defined by the fibre structure may be varied with the distance from the writing tip. Good results have however been obtained with the use of only a single type and size of disc-like elements over the length of the stack.

The ensuing disclosure, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, relates to one exemplary embodiment of the invention given for purposes of illustration but not of limitation. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view in axial cross section of a writing instrument embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a writing tip or nib;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front side View of one element of the ink storage means;

Fig. 7 is a developed view of a flexible liner for use in one embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a view of the rear body section in a modification.

As shown, an improved writing instrument or fountain pen comprises a cylindrical or near-cylindrical body A having a conventional tapered shape and made from any of the materials usual for this purpose. The body comprises two sections, a rear body section 10 and a forward body section 11, interconnected by a threaded joint 12. Clamped between the forward edge 13 of the rear body section and a shoulder 14 of the forward body section 11 is a retainer ring 15 serving to retain the cap or hood of the instrument, not shown.

The forward body section 11 which carries the nib is formed with a rear cylindrical chamber 16 merging through a taper section 17 with a duct 18. Housed within the duct 18 is a tubular nib B comprising a cylindrical body portion 19 formed with front cutouts 20 and 21, so as to define two legs 22 and 23 tapering off at 24, 25 into a narrow nib or pen-tip 26. The nib body 19 is further formed with a longitudinally extending slot 27 opening into the rear end of the tubular body at 28 and terminating 'at its forward end in a projecting stop 29, and'having' the 3 end terminates in a straight cross section 34 and at its front end ataper section 35, so as to conform with the taper of the nib.

L'he-rod33 is rformed .withalongitudinal-slot36 for imparting :elasticity to it .for a -purpose .to be stated. .Inthe illustrative embodiment, .this slot is limited by vertical walls ,(see .Fig. 2. .37 and .38 interconnected by across wall39.

Interposed between nib .B and cylindrical .duct 18 is a flexible .liner element 40 .made of an absorptive material such as cotton, wool or other suitable cellulose base substance. The respective diameters of the tubular parts described are .so selected that, as .a result of the resiliency of.slotted.r.od 33,tthe tubular body 19 of the nib is applied under :a predeterniined'degree of tension against the liner 40 which thus is caused to engage narrowly the walls of cylindrical duct 18.

'Theliner 4'0 may'beimpregnated or coated at the forward edge 40' thereof (see Fig. 7) with a suitable flexible hydrophobous and7or aerophobous (i. .e. water-repellent and/.or air-repellent) substance, such as .a suitable syntheticresin, thereby preventing evaporation of the ink and ingress of air.

A pin 70 embedded in "the forward section 11 of the body A is provided 'to cooperate with the slot 27 in positively maintaining the nib 'B against angular and axial displacement.

The pin 70 may, in a slightly modified form of construction, likewise contribute to the retention of the rod 33 by penetrating into 'ablind hole formed in said rod, in whichcase the rod may-or mayno't be formed with the previously described slot.

The liner 40 extends at 41 into the cylindrical cavity 16. Stacked within this cavity are a plurality of disc-like elements 50 substantially equal in diameter to that of the cavity 16. The'foremost disc 50 contacts the rear edge or the liner 40. The stack of discs extends into the cylindrical cavity '59 throughout which the stack consists of the disc-like elements =60 generally similar in shape to the elements 50. In -'the construction shown, the cylindrical cavity 59 is slightly larger in diameter than the cavity 16, and accordingly, the elements 60 are larger in diameter than the elements 50.

Fitted within cavity 59 beyond the stack is a ring 61 made of a flexible, deformable material, such as cork or the like. The fit of the ring 61 in the :cavity is a friction fitopposing displacement of the ring. The ring thus serves as an abutment for the stack of disc-like elements, and the .stackis thus blocked between ring :61 at its rear end and the shoulder 17 at its forward end.

The instrument body section defines, rearwardly of ring 61, a condensation chamber 62. This chamber communicates with the atmosphere as through the vent hole 63 formed at the rear end of the body A, or at any other suitable location.

In a modified form of the invention, shown in Fig. 8, a cylindrical bafile member 64 formed with a shoulder 65 is interposed between the end of stack 60 and the rear end of body 10, communication between the interior of the fountain pen and atmosphere being provided by through one or more holes such as 66 formed in the bafile member and 67 formed in the body. The provision of such a bafiie will positively provide against the possibility of any out-flow of ink even in the case of a violent impact against the instrument.

The disc-like elements 50 and 60 are preferably made of a cellulose basesubstance, a suitable substance for this purpose being cotton gauze. Excellent results have been obtained where the disc-like elements were made from cellulosic material having an average fibre thickness of 0.1 mm. and average inter-fibre spacings of 0.5 mm. when dry. It will be understood of course that the numerical data here given is by no means restrictive and that satisconsiderably departed from.

4 The instrument operates as follows: To fill the instrument it is simply necessary to dip its writing extremity into writing fiuid or ink. The depth to which the instrument should be immersed for the filling operation may,

' reservoir is of course vented through the hole 63 after having passed through the condensation chamber 62.

The instrument is now in condition for writing. If the nib 26 is placed on and drawn across a suitable writing sheet, a line of ink will be deposited thereon in the usual way owing to the surface adhesion at the tip of the nib. As long as there is some ink remaining in the inter-fibre spaces or meshes of the discs, the nib will be smoothly fed therewith.

Desirably, the average dimension of the inter-fibre spaces in any given cross sectional plane of the reservoir may be increased with the distance of said plane from the nib. This increase may be effected gradually or step-wise.

In practice, the pen will no longer write when all the meshes in the discs of the stack are empty. The strands or fibres of the discs remain moist however, and'this condition facilitates the 'next filling operation, increasing the rate at which it can be effected.

It will be obvious that regardless of temperature and pressure variations, a pneumatic equilibrium will at all times obtain between the interior of the ink reservoir and the ambient atmosphere owing to the vent hole 63.

In writing, the nib B is applied radially against the flexible liner 40, and this increases the smoothness of the written stroke and prevents distortion of the nib.

The arrangement described for mounting the nib in the body is such as to provide for a perfect alignment therebetween, while at the same time assuring sufiicient flexibility to prevent objectionable vibrations of the nib.

The provision of the rod 33 prevents evaporation of the ink from between the points of the nib.

What I claim is:

l. A writing instrument comprising a recessed body, a tubular nib supported therefrom, a stack of cotton gauze disc-like elements within the recessed body, a hydrophilous element between said stack and said nib comprising a liner made of a hydrophilous substance surrounding said nib and in engagement with said stack, and a pressure member inside said nib acting to apply said nib against said liner.

2. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said linear has a hydrophobous front edge.

' 3. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liner has an aerophobous front edge.

4. In a capillary fountain pen: a tubular body defining a recess at its front end, a hydrophilous medium of capillary structure contained inside the body, a split-pointed nib positioned in the recess with the points projecting from the body at their forward end, a tongue of hydrophilous material of capillary structure having a capillary connection to the hydrophilous medium of capillary structure and interposed between the nib and the body and in contacting relationship both with the surface of the nib facing the wall of the recess and with the said wall, pressure means positioned inside the nib and operative to apply it against the tongue substantially throughout their contact surface, and abutment means limiting longitudinal movement of the nib toward the inside of the body.

5. A capillary fountain pen as in claim 4 wherein the abutment means comprise a pin fixed to the body, said nib having a cut-out portion in the nib extending parallel -tdthe common longitudinal axis of the body and of the nib, said pin extending transversely to the common axis and abutting the end of the cut-out portion to limit movement of the nib toward the inside of the body.

6. A writing instrument comprising a tubular body, a nib supported by the body, a hydrophilous material of capillary structure inside the body, a hydrophilous element positioned between the hydrophilous material and the nib comprising a sleeve of hydrophilous substance surrounding the nib and contacting the material of capillary structure, and a pressure member supported by the body in contact with the nib on the surface thereof facing away from the sleeve applying the nib against the sleeve.

7. A capillary fountain pen as in claim 4 wherein the nib points are movable relative to the body whereby the nib, with the points thereof applied to a material to be written on, is applied more forcibly against the tongue to squeeze ink therefrom for flow toward the points.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stone -1 Mar. 21, 1882 Gorden Sept. 11, 1894 Andersen Apr. 6, 1920 Mungen et al. Dec. 30, 1930 Studer et al. Apr. 12, 1938 Zodtner et al. June 15, 1954 Rickmeyer July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May 1, 1941 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1950 Germany Feb. 26, 1951 

